Dear,
Every year, criminal gangs traffic thousands of people into the UK. The victims are bought and sold like slaves. Many of them, including children, end up in the sex trade. They’re forced to have sex with dozens of different men each week. [1]
Both David Cameron and Nick Clegg have spoken against trafficking in the past. But now, they’re refusing to opt in to new rules agreed by the rest of Europe to crack down on the traffickers. [2] This is a huge setback to the fight against trafficking in Europe.
Politicians don’t want to be seen turning a blind eye to trafficking. If we make this a public issue, we can embarrass them into signing the UK up. A huge petition to Cameron and Clegg would prove they can expect a big public outcry if they let down the victims of trafficking. That could be enough to change their decision.
Click here to sign the petition to tell Cameron and Clegg to fight trafficking: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/stop-trafficking/
Trafficking gangs smuggle their victims between countries. The new rules will help European countries work together to catch and punish these gangs. If the UK refuses to join in, we’ll make life easier for the traffickers. They’ll be able to carry on making huge profits from abusing people. [3]
38 Degrees members have achieved lots when it comes to standing up for people in danger. Together, we stopped the government from sending Kiana Firouz back to the risk of prison or torture in Iran. We won our fight to make Boris Johnson keep his promise to pay for four Rape Crisis Centres in London. We can do the same to protect the victims of trafficking.
We’ve teamed up with Anti-Slavery International on this campaign. By working together we’ve got a real chance of persuading David Cameron and Nick Clegg that they can’t back away from the fight against trafficking.
Click here sign the petition to David Cameron and Nick Clegg: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/stop-trafficking/
Thanks for being involved,
David, Hannah, Johnny and the 38 Degrees Team
P.S. As well as getting in touch about trafficking, 38 Degrees members have been making suggestions about how we can work together to influence the debate about the cuts. If you’ve got ideas, please add them to the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/peoplepowerchange/) or add a comment on our blog (http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2010/09/14/cuts-what-should-38-degrees-do/)
NOTES
[1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/2600-women-trafficked-into-sex-trade-report-finds-2055811.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/03/belfast-brothel-raids-sex-trafficking
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/04/john-sentamu-criticises-sex-trafficking-policy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/06/sex-slave-trafficking
[3] http://www.antislavery.org/english/campaigns/background_on_trafficking_for_forced_labour_in_the_uk.aspx
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/30/coalition-opts-out-sex-trafficking
